Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Ti

mon;

I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should

Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them not !
It grieves me, to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; aud all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men :
Methinks they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, and

pledges

The breath of him in a divided draught,

Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been If I [prov'd, Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;

Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes;

Great men should drink with harness + on their throats.

Tim. My lord, in heart; ‡ and let the health go round.

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way! brave fellow 1-be keeps his tides well. [mon, Those healths will make thee and thy state look

I deriv'd liberty.

Tim. Oh! by no means,

Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love;

I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say he gives, if he receives:

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare

To imitate them: Faults that are rich, are fair. Ven. A noble spirit.

[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON.

Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony

Was but devis'd at first, to set a gloss
On faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs
none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than my fortunes to me.

[They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it.

Apem. Oh, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have you not?

Tim. Ŏ Apemantus !-you are welcome.
Apem. No,

You shall not make me welcome :

I come to have thee thurst me out of doors. Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a bumour there

Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame :
Thy say, my lords, that ira furor brevis est,†
But yond' man's ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

ill.

Ti

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, Honest water, which ne'er left man i'the mire: This and my food, are equals; there's no odds Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

APEMANTUS' GRACE.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man, but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond, $
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men sin, and I eat root.
[Eats and drinks.
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the

field now.

Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends.

Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat like them: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

Tim. O no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable ¶ title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O you gods, think

Alluding to hounds which are trained to pursuit by the blood of the animal which they kill. † Armour. 1 In sincerity. Foolish. At the summit of happiness. ¶ Endearing.

1, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them; and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits; and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends! Oh! what a precious comfort 'tis, to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timos.

2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our exes,

And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. Apem. Ho! ho! I laugh to think that babe a

bastard.

Enter a SERVANT.

1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best.

Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord. [Exeunt CUPID, and LADIES.

Tim. Flavius,

Flav. My lord.

Tim. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour ;

[Aside. Else I should tell him,-Well,-i'faith, I should When all's spent, he'd be cross'd ⚫ then, an he could.

'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind; + That

man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.

[Exit, and returns with the casket. 1 Lord. Where be our men?

Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 Lord. Our horses.

Tim. O my friends, I have one word

To say to you:-Look you, my good lord, I

must

Enter CUPID.

Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon;-and to

all

That of his bounties taste -The five best senses Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely

To tratulate thy plenteous bosom: The ear, Taste touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise;

They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Tum. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance.

Music, make their welcome.

[Exit CUPID. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd.

Music-Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of LADIES as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing, and playing.

Apem. Hey day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!

They dance! they are mad women.
Lae madness is the glory of this life,

At this poerp shows to a little oil, and root.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Ipod whose age we void it up again,

a poisonous spite and envy. Who lives,

that's not

Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears Not one sparn to their graves of their friends' gift t

I would fear, those that dance before me now, Bond one day stamp upon me. It has been done;

Mrs shut their doors against a setting sun. The Loads rise from table, with much adoring of TION; and, to shew their loves, each angies out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.

Accept and wear it, kind my lord.

1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,All. So are we all.

Enter a SERVANT.

Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate

Newly alighted, and come to visit you.
Tim. They are fairly welcome.
Flav. I beseech your honour,

Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
Tim. Near? why then another time I'll hear
I pr'ythee, let us be provided
To shew them entertainment.
Flav. I scarce know how.

Enter Another SERVANT.

[thee: [Aside.

2 Serv. May it please your honour, the lord Lucius,

Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.
Tim. I shall accept them fairly let the pre-

sents

Enter a third SERVANT. Be worthily entertain'd.-How now, what news ? 3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him; and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.

Tim. I'll hunt with him; And let them be receiv'd,

Not without fair reward.

Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer.-

Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this,
To shew him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good;
His promises fly so beyond his state,
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes
For every word; he is so kind, that he now
Pays interest for't; his land's put to their books.
Before I were forc'd out !
Well 'would I were gently put out of office,

Happier is he that has no friend to feed,
Than such as do even enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
Tim. You do yourselves

[Exit.

3 Lord. Oh! he is the very soul of bounty! Tim. And now I remember me, my lord, you gave

Good words the other day of a bay courser rode on it is yours, because you lik'd it. 2 Lord. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord,

in that.

Tm. Now Apemantus if thou wert not sullen, I'd be good to thee.

Apem. No, I'll nothing for,

[left If I should be brib'd too, there would be none To rail upon thee: and then thou wouldest sin the faster.

Thon giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou
Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly;
What need these feasts, pomps, and vain glories?
Tim. Nay,

An you begin to rail on society once,
I am sworn, not to give regard to you.
Farewell; and come with better music.

Apem. So;

[Exit.

Thou'lt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then,

I'll lock

SCENE 1.-The same.-A Room in a
SENATOR'S House.

Enter a SENATOR, with papers in his hand.
Sen And late, five thousand to Varro; and to
Isidore

He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty.-Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,
And able horses: No porter at his gate;
But rather one that smiles, and stir invites

Enter CAPHIS.

Caphis, ho!

My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Have smit my credit: I love and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
Immediate are my needs; and my relief
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone :
Put on a most importunate aspect,

A visage of demand; for I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a phoenix.

Caph. I go, Sir.

Get you gone.

Sen. I go, Sir?-take the bonds along with you, And have the dates in compt.

Caph. I will, Sir.

Sen. Go.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same.-A Hall in TIMON'S Hou e.

Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand. Flav. No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,

That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: Takes no account
How things go from him; nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue; Never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.
What shall be done? He will not hear, till feel:
I must be round with him now he comes from
hunting.

Fie, fie, fie, fie!

Enter CAPHIS, and the SERVANTS of ISIDORK and VARRO.

Caph. Good even, Varro: What,
You come for money?

Var. Serv. Is't not your business too?
Caph. It is ;-And yours too, Isidore
Isid. Serv. It is so.

Caph. 'Would we were all discharg'd!
Var. Serv. I fear it.

Caph. Here comes the lord.

Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and LORDS, &c. Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,

My Alcibiades.-With me? What's your will!
Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
Tim. Dues? Whence are you?
Caph. Of Athens here, my lord.
Tim. Go to my steward.

Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me

off

To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awak'd by great occasion,
To call upon his own; and humbly prays you,
That with your other noble parts you'll suit,
In giving him his right.

Tim. Mine honest friend,

I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning.
Caph. Nay, good my lord,-

Tim. Contain thyself, good friend.

Var. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good

lord,

Isid. Serv. From Isidore;

He humbly prays your speedy payment,

By no argument can he be proved in a solvent state. ↑ Repulsed.